2026 April
Municipalities Today is a web-based newsletter published monthly by the Ministry of Government Relations. It lists deadlines, training opportunities, services and programs that may be of interest to Saskatchewan municipal officials.
View past editions of Municipalities Today by visiting the Publications Centre.
1. Initial CHIF Projects Announced During SUMA Convention
The opening of the 2026 SUMA Convention, hosted in Regina, was highlighted by an announcement of more than $25.9 million in funding through the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) to develop or improve the essential water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste infrastructure needed to build more homes faster for the cities of Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.
Minister of Government Relations Eric Schmalz welcomed the infrastructure dollars and added that the province will continue to engage with our municipal and federal partners to explore additional joint funding opportunities that support growth and help build a stronger province.
For those communities that have submitted CHIF applications, the ministry anticipates notifying applicants of their application status in late spring 2026.
2. Municipal Administrators’ Corner - 10-Minute Trainers
10-Minute Trainers are short, group-training sessions designed for municipal council members and facilitated by the administrator. 10-Minute Trainers were developed to help councils work together more effectively using everyday examples they might face on the job. It is an excellent team-building resource that costs nothing and can be easily completed as a group before or after a council meeting.
The training includes short videos and questions designed to engage municipalities in discussions about local issues. Each 10-Minute Trainer module consists of three sections. Each section, designed to take approximately 10-15 minutes, consists of:
- written material
- video
- discussion questions
The first 10-Minute Trainers module focused on council procedures. The second module explores the roles and responsibilities of municipal administrators and council members. The module provides an opportunity to discuss what these look like in your municipality and what problems may arise when these roles and responsibilities are not clear.
For more information about 10-Minute Trainers, contact the Ministry of Government Relations at 306-787-2680 or email advisory.services@gov.sk.ca.
3. Municipal Administrators' Legislative and Operational Calendars
On average, administrators and staff have 10 or more deadlines and/or tasks they need to meet each month. To help you keep track of key monthly tasks, legislative responsibilities and deadlines, please refer to:
4. Reminder of Workshops on Zoning and Building Requirements
Community Planning and Building and Technical Standards branches are delivering a series of joint workshops across Saskatchewan in late April/early May 2026. These sessions will focus on why the zoning and building bylaws matter rather than how they are approved and highlight key responsibilities of local authorities.
Workshops are open to anyone interested including elected officials, administrators and community members and run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Coffee and tea are provided; please bring your own lunch.
Workshops will be held in:
- Weyburn – Tuesday, April 28
- Melville – Wednesday, April 29
- Humboldt – Thursday, April 30
- Swift Current – Tuesday, May 5
- Kindersley – Wednesday, May 6
- North Battleford – Thursday, May 7
To register for a presentation in your area, please use our online registration form and select the one nearest to you. An agenda and information package will be emailed to all registered attendees. Registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22.
For more information, please contact Building and Technical Standards at 306-787-4113 or btstandards@gov.sk.ca.
5. Join the Strengthening Water Systems Forum June 2
Access to safe, reliable drinking water supports communities and the economy. Municipalities are also experiencing increasing operational demands and costs as many are seeking to replace aging infrastructure.
Municipal administrators and leaders managing water systems are invited to join Johnson Shoyama, Water Security Agency, ACEC-SK, SaskWater and Government Relations for At the Source: Strengthening Saskatchewan’s Drinking Water Systems Together, a free forum to share experiences, explore challenges, clarify roles and identify practical opportunities to strengthen how we work together.
When: 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 2 (lunch provided)
Where: TCU Place, Saskatoon (Gallery C and D)
Deadline to register: May 15 at SaskWater.com
Key topics include governance and decision-making, operational realities and risk, infrastructure and sustainability as well as financing, technology and support models. For more information, contact darlene.guy@saskwater.com.
6. National Day of Mourning
On April 28 each year, both Canada and Saskatchewan recognize the National Day of Mourning – a day for employers and employees to remember those who have died, as well those who are injured or stricken by illness on the job. On this day, the Saskatchewan legislature will read the names of those who lost their lives to their work into the provincial record.
We encourage all municipalities to take an active role in promoting health and safety as a part of their workplace culture. To help commemorate the National Day of Mourning in your workplace, visit WorkSafe Saskatchewan to download this year’s poster or to learn about events scheduled near you.